Speaking on the recent edition of Off the Record, he recounted the struggles his people faced over two hundred years of discrimination including being enslaved and dealing with Jim Crow laws, not to mention the “3,000 blacks who were lynched along with 1,000 whites who were, too” because they supported civil rights.

“I’ve never seen an LGBT sign 'Drink Here.' I’ve never seen an LGBT sign that you have to go to the back of the bus,” he said.

Once that word got out, it wasn’t long before the other side had its due.

“Any leader who chooses bigotry and ignorance over knowledge and compassion is choosing to divide and is not advocating for love within places of worship or without.” That from Emily Dievendorf who runs Equality Michigan, which wants gay marriages legal in this state.

This latest nasty back and forth centers on the pending appellate court hearing on August 6. A federal judge found the state’s ban on gay marriage unconstitutional and the higher court will reconsider that.

Pastor Stacy chastised those who signed onto the case for gay rights. He and his group called them racists for advocating something that is “devastating the black community” by allowing homosexuals to introduce HIV and AIDS into that community.

Ms. Dievendorf would have none of that: “Equality Michigan believes that framing the HIV crisis as the fault of any community is offensive rhetoric from a someone who claims to be using faith to serve the best interests of minorities.”

She embraces other “faith leaders who, instead of playing politics, have chosen to stand on the side of love and fairness….”

Pastor Swimp, believing he has God on his side, is not likely to toss in the towel on this back and forth over gay rights.

Watch "Off the Record with Tim Skubick" online anytime at video.wkar.org